On 25 September the UN Secretary-General addressed the UN Security Council on the topic “Leadership for Peace”.

In the face of deepening divisions and growing mistrust between nations, impunity is spreading along with “repeated violations” of international law and the Charter, the Secretary-General told world leaders and senior ministers in the Council chamber in New York.

“Leadership for peace means ensuring that the UN Security Council acts in a meaningful way to ease global tensions and help address the conflicts that are inflicting so much suffering around the world.”

“A united Council can make a tremendous difference for peace”, Mr. Guterres continued: “A divided Council cannot.”

He said it was “imperative” that in the light of the failure to act – due often to divisions between permanent members who wield veto power – members need to “spare no effort to work together to find common ground.”